The Texico Wolverines are loud and proud following their first state spirit championship.

The 22-member squad claimed top honors in Class 2A at Albuquerque April 4, with a 30-point win over Cloudcroft.

The Wolverines finished with 560 points out of a possible 800. The scoring, according to Texico cheerleading coach Dayla Bass, is given by eight judges in each routine.

Four of the judges combine to score a team up to 100 points. The other four judges, Bass said, deduct points for technical errors (missing props, incorrect number of jumps/stunts).

“You could get 400 points,” Bass said, “if you were to be perfect, which is impossible.”

The highest score for a routine was Eldorado’s first-routin 380, but Bass said many of the 5A squads have full-time cheerleaders. Bass said half of her 22 cheerleaders are involved in other sports at Texico, and they don’t have an official practice time.

“All of (our practice) was done before school or on the weekends,” Bass said.

Team captains are Jaryse Harris, Laiken Crist and Bethany Heaton.

Texico’s squad was easily the largest in 2A. For comparison, Bass said Cloudcroft had only two girls. Size has its advantages and drawbacks, Bass said.

“It’s an advantage with stunting,” Bass said, “but it’s a disadvantage with syncing.”

The team was shocked with the outpouring of support it received going into Albuquerque.

“Our school was really supportive,” Bass said. “They had a sendoff for us. Coach (Kristen) Scanlan was doing cheers, they decorated the school bus. It was insane.”